After Star Wars thrilled audiences in theaters, everyone wanted to tap into the collective consciousness of pop culture that had embraced that galaxy far, far away. Some saw an opportunity to for storytelling in an exciting new way while others simply rushed out to cash in with anything somewhat similar to Star Wars. How Battle Beyond the Stars fits into those categories must be judged by the eye of the beholder, however, shazbazzar, JediShua, and SuperFriend Paul Bateman agree that without Star Wars, Battle Beyond the Stars would never have seen the light of day.

Battle Beyond the Stars

On the surface, Battle Beyond the Stars is a fitting tribute to the popularity of Star Wars. A tyrant with a planet destroying “super-weapon” threatens to destroy Akir, a planet populated by peaceful folk with no weapons. A young “farm boy” named Shad (Richard Thomas) volunteers to find willing fighters for his aged mentor, the last Akira warrior (Jeff Corey) before Sador (John Saxon) returns. Add a rogue’s gallery of a space cowboy (George Peppard), a Valkyrie (Sybil Danning), a dangerous-looking creature (Morgan Woodward), a wealthy assassin (Robert Vaughn), five hive-minded clones (Earl Boen et al), and a beautiful love interest (Darlanne Fluegel) and you get a Magnificent Seven worthy of Kurosawa’s namesake.

Beyond the caricatures, names, and concepts similar to the original Star Wars (1977), Battle Beyond the Stars borrows heavily from Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai (1954). Those familiar with the origins of Star Wars will immediately recognize that George Lucas based his initial space opera on The Hidden Fortress (1958), another Kurosawa film. In this regard, Battle Beyond the Stars delves deeply into the planetary crust in this spacey adaptation of a Star Wars influence.

Share and enjoy this special episode of TechnoRetro Dads as Paul Bateman joins shazbazzar and JediShua for a fun, loving, and fun-loving look back at Battle Beyond the Stars.

Whether you’ve been lost in Pine Apple, Alabama or busy blasting Asteroids in outer space, it’s time to get up, grab your supplies, and head out to school because summer vacation is gone — at least summer vacation 1988 is over. But with kids returning to school, we thought it would be cool to recall some classic ‘80s essentials while trading tips about how to (and how not to) play Atari’s Asteroids. All this and a look back at 1988’s summer cinema fare, too! All it will cost you is 77 minutes — so tune in.

…and our Roving Spoonster, Shane in GR suggests a popping-good time with his discovery of a Sea of Thieves styled “cereal cannon”, a collage of his daughters’ cereal tarts from his commercial, and a report of “on-the-go” cereals from General Mills and Nestle.

TechnoRetro Arcade

JediShua fondly remembers Atari’s 1979 vector-based arcade hit Asteroids while shazbazzar flees the scene in inexplicable panic.Asteroids, a rather simplistic game that is fraught with harrowing consequences from any false move, continues to challenge and thrill visitors to any video arcade. Maybe shaz will learn to quit hitting the thrust button.

Let’s Go to the Movies

EarBuds chime in with their memories of movies from the summer of 1988:

Above the Law

Beetlejuice*

Big

The Blob

Bloodsport

Coming to America

Crocodile Dundee II

Die Hard

A Fish Called Wanda

Funny Farm

Police Academy 5

Poltergeist 3

Rambo III

Red Heat

Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Willow

Young Guns

School Supplies

Gear for your feet, your Trapper Keeper, and your pencil box — and all of it was plastic! Going back to school meant school supplies and in the ‘80s that meant stickers, shoes of the Jelly kind, shaped erasers, and more. The ‘Dads remember some common school-day fare and fashion that made the end of summer a little easier to bear.

Feedback

From Garfield to Opus to Foofur, the EarBuds chimed in with their “Pooh Bears” and stuffies from childhood. Find out what Glen Nelson, Mike MacDonald, and Mark Ham(All) have in common with JediShua before hearing an endearing tale of a love lost and gained with the help of a friend of Melmac thanks to Steven Chopchik and Gordon Shumway. After all, we all want to know what happened to Alf after the final cliffhanger episode. Maybe he was attacked by cat-shaped asteroids!

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds! Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes. Then share with others on social media, and join us on Discord for discussions about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s. While you’re at it, give the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us a message or mp3 via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

From the stories by A. A. Milne to Walt Disney’s adaptations, Winnie the Pooh has been a joyful childhood classic for nearly one hundred years. The ‘Dads are certainly fans of these imaginative stories. Mixed with tears and laughter, Christopher Robin continues the tradition with a story of Pooh’s grown-up friend’s return to the Hundred Acre Wood in a movie that thrills audiences of any age.

…and so does EarBud Brian who has found Funko Pop cereals. PLUS: Hear the cereal commercials for the contest and find out who wins the grand prize! Thanks to all who participated. Keep sending in your imaginative radio commercials to TechnoRetro Dads — even when there is no contest. We love them!

Vinyl Scratchback

Mac from Canadia submits a short dystopian playlist (probably because the world ended as he was making it) with tunes from the Ramones, Bruce Springsteen, The Clash, Johnny Cash and U2, and The Specials.

TechnoRetro Arcade

JediShua and shazbazzar focus on video games that were featured in movies but don’t exist — or at least they didn’t exist when the movies came out. From Wreck-It Ralph to The Last Starfighter to WarGames to TRON to Ready Player One, everyone wants a shot at playing the games the characters played on the silver screen. Come on, game designers, let’s get these made!

Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh

Now that both TechnoRetro Dads have seen Disney’s new Christopher Robin movie with their families, it’s time to talk about Christopher Robin and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Disney’s adaptations of the written word and artist illustrations to film never fail to excite the emotions, entertain the brain, and provide a lasting theme. JediShua and shazbazzar continue to love the “silly old bear” in this ingenious live-action feature. We think you will, too.

Toys in the Attic

Like Christopher Robin, shazbazzar and JediShua had their own cast of characters with stuffed toys from their childhood days. From popular characters to homemade toys from garage sales, these plush and plump friends provided endless hours of play and creativity that the ‘Dads fondly remember decades later.

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds! Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes. Then share with others on social media, and join us on Discord for discussions about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s. While you’re at it, give the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us a message or mp3 via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Even though summer vacation is winding down, summer is still in full effect as shazbazzar and JediShua enjoy their last full week before school starts back again at the beach, at the arcade, and in a puppetry museum in South Metropolis.

In the NEWS

Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation lands on Supergirl with Sam Witwer. Biff joins the cast of Legends of Tomorrow. Anakin ends his stint on Timeless. An Indiana cornfield emerges from Stranger Things’ Upside-Down.Transformers: The Movie returns to theaters next month. Billy Vann from The Hilarious House of Frightenstein is honored in a museum. Cats’ nine lives will soon be tested if a new ALF series gets the green light for television.

We Love Our Cereal…

…and EarBuds do, too. The Cereal Commercial Contest continues with a few submissions, but you still have time to send us your 30-60 second spot. Imagine a cereal and waffle dessert while playing a Monster Cereals’ card game in your brand new cereal sneakers with a bowl of quinoa before realizing that Coco Pops drops 40% of their sugar content.

Vinyl Scratchback

Summer vacations need their own playlists, and EarBud Andy Lindemann has one for his trip to Pensacola Beach before returning to his responsibilities at school.

TechnoRetro Arcade

JediShua and shazbazzar are introduced to the “portable” Vectrex video game system from the early ‘80s. PLUS: Robocop is added to the TechoRetro Arcade.

Feedback

Jedi Holmes shares his Godzilla knowledge.

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds! Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes. Then share with others on social media, and join us on Discord for discussions about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s. While you’re at it, give the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us a message or mp3 via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.